Missing hunter found dead in Carter County

Phillip Carnell

VAN BUREN — A missing Sikeston man was found dead Wednesday morning after he went missing Sunday while hunting, according to a press release from the National Park Sevice.

Searchers located the body Phillip Carnell, 58, of Sikeston on Wednesday morning, not far from the area he had planned to hunt in when he was last seen on Sunday.

Carnell was deer hunting in Ozark National Scenic Riverways, near Cave Spring in Carter County. He was dropped off at his hunting spot Sunday morning by a friend. When he failed to return from hunting later in the day and could not be located by family and friends, he was reported missing. Emergency responders began scouring the area for Carnell that evening.

After more than two days of intense searching, volunteers on horseback discovered Carnell’s body on a small island in a slough Wednesday morning. It is suspected that he became lost and crossed the slough onto the island while tracking a deer. The condition of the body is consistent with death caused by hypothermia and exposure. An investigation is ongoing.

During the course of the search, multiple local agencies, fire departments, and organizations provided personnel and resources. There also was a huge outpouring of community support, with nearly 150 volunteers aiding in the search for Carnell Monday and Tuesday. The search teams utilized nearly every means of search available by air, land and water. Volunteers and emergency responders traversed the area on foot, in vehicles, by boat and on horseback. Aircraft and drones flew over the area multiple times and dog teams also were used in an attempt to pick up a scent trail.